Alabama vs. LSU score: Crimson Tide edge Tigers for SEC title, make push for No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament

Alabama needed a late bounce to get past a feisty LSU team for its first conference title since 1991

If there was any doubt about Alabama's ability to survive the singe-elimination pressure of postseason basketball, the Crimson Tide erased it Sunday with an 80-79 win over No. 3 seed LSU in the SEC Tournament title game. The victory capped an impressive three-day run for the top-seeded Crimson Tide, who had last won the league tournament in 1991.

Alabama's bonafides as a postseason contender came into question by some skeptical of the program's reliance on 3-point shooting and the potential of a poor shooting game dooming it in a do or die situation. But the Crimson Tide responded by putting their solid defense on display and getting critical defensive stops in a semifinal win over Tennessee on Saturday and in the final seconds against LSU. 

The Crimson Tide made just 7-of-28 attempts from 3-point range against Tennessee and 12-of-36 against LSU -- just a 29.7% clip over two days. That figure was well below the team's season average, but it didn't stop Alabama from hoisting a trophy in the end, and that's a good indicator of what the Crimson Tide may be able to accomplish in the NCAA Tournament.

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Below is the full schedule and results from Nashville. For a look at the updated SEC Tournament bracket, click here. 

2021 SEC Tournament schedule, scores

Location: Bridgestone Arena -- Nashville, Tennessee
Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free) | Follow live: CBS Sports App  

All times Eastern; some start times approximated

First round -- Wednesday, March 10
Game 1: No. 12 Vanderbilt 79, No. 13 Texas A&M 68 | Recap

Second round -- Thursday, March 11
Game 2: No. 9 Mississippi State 74, No. 8 Kentucky 73 | Recap
Game 3: No. 5 Florida 69, No. 12 Vanderbilt 63 | Recap
Game 4: No. 7 Missouri 73, No. 10 Georgia 70 | Recap
Game 5: No. 6 Ole Miss 76, No. 11 South Carolina 59 | Recap

Quarterfinals -- Friday, March 12
Game 6: No. 1 Alabama 85, No. 9 Mississippi State 48 | Recap
Game 7: No. 4 Tennessee 78, No. 5 Florida 66 | Recap
Game 8: No. 2 Arkansas 70, No. 7 Missouri 64 | Recap
Game 9: No. 3 LSU 76, No. 6 Ole Miss 73 | Recap

Semifinals -- Saturday, March 13
Game 10: No. 1 Alabama 73, No. 4 Tennessee 68 | Recap
Game 11: No. 3 LSU 78, No. 2 Arkansas 71 | Recap

SEC Tournament Championship Game -- Sunday, March 14
Game 12: No. 1 Alabama 80, No. 3 LSU 79 | Recap

Follow below for updates, analysis and highlights throughout the SEC Tournament.

[Mar 14, 2021 at 3:11 pm ET · David Cobb]

What a game. Gotta feel good about what those two can accomplish in the NCAA Tournament. LSU's defense is still a question mark, but the Tigers held Alabama to 33.3% 3-point shooting today, and that gave them a chance. In the end, the league's best team is hoisting a trophy, though.

[Mar 14, 2021 at 2:27 pm ET · David Cobb]

Classic brewing in Nashville? Or will Alabama pull away? We'll find out as the Crimson Tide take a 55-52 lead at the u12 timeout. Curious to see how close a strong finish might get Bama to the No. 1 seed line.

[Mar 14, 2021 at 2:02 pm ET · David Cobb]

Solid close to the first half for Alabama after the Crimson Tide went cold for a bit following a fast start. 40-37 Alabama at the half.